Craig Levein points to long game after Scotland fall short against Serbia

Craig Levein, the Scotland manager, says he can understand supporters' frustration with the team's performance against Serbia. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP

Scotland have played one match in their World Cup qualifying section but already Craig Levein is battling negativity.

Levein's team were uninspiring during Saturday's scoreless draw with Serbia at Hampden Park. Given the promise the Scotland manager routinely claims his players possess, the performance was met with disappointment and the pressure is firmly on Levein to beat Macedonia when they visit Glasgow .

It would be managerial suicide for Levein to criticise Scotland's supporters. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the manager instead took aim at the media for what he perceives as undue criticism of Saturday's display.

"Nobody is more aware of the fact we need three points in this game than me," Levein said. "I have been a wee bit annoyed at the kind of hysterical reaction after Saturday. There were 30 points to play for, we got one on Saturday and there are still 27 to play for. There are a lot of points to go. For me it is all about the long game and picking up points.

"If you want to break it into two games, then do that. Let us wait until after the second game before we make judgments. I have heard people saying we are out of the tournament. That's unbelievable.

"I think it is not a bad start, certainly it is not a disastrous start. We have had worse starts to campaigns in the past. If we beat Macedonia and results go our way, we could be top of the group."

Still the booing that echoed round Hampden at full-time on Saturday should not pass without acknowledgment. Levein's assertion that "the punters are behind us 100%" is not quite borne out by reality.

"I have been involved in very successful seasons with clubs and there are games when you get booed when you have played well," Levein added.

"This is not about just supporting your team. This is about supporting your country. There is a huge build-up to games and there is a level of frustration. If we win that game 1-0, it is a different story altogether. I was reasonably happy with the performance we put on. I can understand people being frustrated."

Levein's Macedonian plans have been hampered by injuries. A late decision will be made on the fitness of the Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who has suffered a recurrence of a groin problem. Charlie Adam is also a doubt.

Scottish struggles to score goals raise the one matter Levein would rather had disappeared. The Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher remains in international exile after refusing to be selected for a friendly match and failing to re-declare his availability. Levein is entitled not to chase Fletcher but the issue is commonly raised as a criticism of the manager.

Kenny Miller, the Scotland captain, said: "I get asked this every single time and the answer is always the same: he doesn't want to play. There's nothing we can do about it. If somebody makes the decision that he doesn't want to play, we have to respect that and stand by it. Bringing it up every five minutes is not going to make any difference. The decision remains the same. If he turns round and decides he wants to play, brilliant, but he doesn't. He's the only one who can change his mind."

Miller did not waver when asked if the Scotland squad have faith in their manager. "Totally, 100%," said the striker. "We believe in what he's done. I know we keep saying it but we do believe we are making progress. Even on Saturday, as players we can see that. I've watched the game back and I feel we are getting better.

"But what we also understand is we need to show it. We can keep saying it all we want but we know we have to start turning this progression we keep talking about into results. We're still very optimistic about this campaign and, if we do keep going the way we know we are going, then we're going to be OK and hopefully we'll be pushing towards the end of this group for qualification."

Yet if Scotland fail to deliver once again on Tuesday, Levein will encounter unwanted hysteria.